An Alabama man was arrested for repeatedly putting a toddler into a clothes dryer in the family home and then turning it on with the child inside it, multiple reports said.

Twenty five-year-old Steven Todhunter from Alabaster was arrested on January 12 and charged with  aggravated child abuse. He was also charged with felony domestic abuse for holding a woman against a wall and choking her until she lost consciousness.

According to the charging documents, the abuse of the toddler took place in the home between May 2017 and May 2018. The incidents, however, were not reported to the authorities until September 2018.

The warrant did not state the age of the victim, but records show that Todhunter is the father of a three year old child.

That warrant states that he assaulted the woman on the same dates but did not state her relationship with Todhunter.

AL.com reported that a warrant that was filed had stated that Todhunter would put the child inside the dryer on numerous occasions during the time period mentioned. The warrant stated: "On numerous occasions, Steven G. Todhunter placed the victim in the washing machine or dryer. When the victim was placed in the drying, (the suspect) would close and secure the door with a chair, and sometimes turn the dryer on."

The toddler victim also told the authorities that Todhunter would put him inside the washing machine at times and threaten to turn it on. He would also allegedly warn the child that "the water is going to be very hot".

The court documents did not reveal the exact nature of the relationship between the boy and Todhunter, or even the exact age of the child. 

The 25-year-old man was released from jail after he posted the $20,000 bond. 

Todhunter will appear in court again in February. Court records found online have shown that he has a prior criminal record that also includes child abuse charges.

The charge of aggravated child abuse of a child under the age of 6 is considered a Class A felony according to the law in the state of Alabama. The domestic violence charge is considered a Class B felony and carries a maximum of up to 20 years behind bars.